Washington Post Faces Credibility Crisis in India Over Adani Group Reporting

Social media users questioned if the newspaper had become a tool for geopolitical narrative manipulation

The Washington Post, once regarded as a global exemplar of courageous journalism, is now facing significant credibility challenges in India. The publication that brought Watergate to light finds its reporting on India's economic advancement consistently criticized for bias and factual inadequacies.

Its October 2025 publication titled "India's $3.9 billion plan to help Modi's mogul ally after US charges," alleged that the Indian government, Finance Ministry, and LIC worked together to direct Rs 33,000 crore into Adani Group companies. However, the article relied on unnamed sources and incomplete documentation - without providing verifiable evidence.

The government, LIC, and Adani Group promptly rejected the allegations as inaccurate and misleading. LIC emphasized that its investments in Adani represent less than 1 percent of its overall portfolio and have generated returns exceeding 120 percent. Indian media outlets characterized the article as another "hit job," drawing parallels to the timing and approach of the 2023 Hindenburg report.

Public reaction on social media was decidedly negative, with hashtags like #FakeNewsWaPo gaining widespread traction. Many questioned whether The Washington Post had abandoned independent journalism in favor of advancing geopolitical narratives.

This skepticism appears warranted given the newspaper's recent history of corrections and retractions that have damaged its reputation:

In June 2025, they withdrew portions of Gaza coverage after incorrectly attributing civilian casualties to Israeli forces.

In July 2025, they issued an apology to India's TV9 Bharatvarsh for incorrect attributions in Pakistan-related reporting.

In 2019, a feature about Black families' farmland required 15 substantial corrections - one of their most embarrassing journalistic failures.

In March 2021, they corrected a Trump story after audio evidence contradicted key quoted material.

In November 2021, two Steele Dossier articles were amended and partially removed due to unreliable sourcing.

Given this context, Indians now approach such reporting with profound distrust. They perceive these articles not as journalism but as attempts to undermine global perception of India's growth trajectory. In a nation where citizens increasingly verify news independently, The Washington Post's recent publication exemplifies diminished credibility - a foreign newspaper struggling to comprehend a self-assured emerging India.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)